What I’m reading: Halloween Crafts

I’ve noticed that Halloween seems to be more commercial every year and colourful images are already creeping onto Pinterest. Halloween Crafts: 35 spooky projects to make and bake has recently been published and is packed full of fun projects to fill your home this Halloween.

My children are just getting interested in Halloween. The last few years I’ve dressed them up and we’ve carved a pumpkin but this year I think we will be doing a lot more. This book gives you some great inspiration, from spooky decorations to creepy costumes and scarily sweet treats. There are a couple of things on my to-do list, including the marzipan beetles, candy apples and zombie hands. The recipes are brilliant because although they show the ingredients using US measurements they include the UK equivalents and I wish more books did this.

There are instructions for 11 costumes and full-size paper templates are included for all the costumes. They include a black cat, spooky spider, witches and wizards and each pattern is well illustrated to guide you through the process.

My favourite section is the spooky decorations as I love to decorate my house. I’ve already made the felt bat ornament which I’m going to add to a seasonal wreath. Some of the projects are quite unusual, such as the ghoulish gravestones, fall wreath, pumpkin party bags  and fabric bunting, and would bring some much needed colour indoors.

The projects include lists of all materials needed as well as step-by-step instructions, photographs and illustrations, making them easy to follow. Basic techniques are included at the back of the book, and full-size templates are given for all of the costumes.

Halloween Crafts is published by CICO Books at £12.99, and is available from all good bookshops or call 01256 302699.